There a couple different variations of this scam out there.
1. An increasing number of websites that scrape existing, real mugshots out of public databases, and contact these people. Arrestees sometimes pay hundreds of dollars to have their mugshots removed from general search engines, due to embarrassment or fear that their friends, families and/or employers will find out. Sites like this are being sued for extortion in a lawsuit testing the bounds of the First Amendment, but in the meantime, they have victimized many people. An example can be seen at www.mugshots.com.
2. The second variation of this scam is even worse than the first. In this scam, people that haven’t even been arrested, are being targeted with an email that claims their mugshot is easy to find on the internet and if they want to see this embarrassing picture, “Click Here Now”. The link leads them to a legit site that has been compromised and infects their PC with a drive-by attack, laying down a Trojan on the hard disk, making the PC a zombie.
Remember to Think Before You Click!
Delete any emails that mention mugshots of anyone; themselves, friends, family, or co-workers!
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